Spark intensifier



A. F. GILLET. SPARK INTENSIHER. man MARl 23, 1920.

Mar. 6, 1923.

IN VEN TOR.

A TT ORNE Y.

Patented Mar. 6, 1923.

srarss innan saraaa carina..

ALEXIS F. GILLET, OF OMAHA, NEBBASKA, ASSIGNOR TO JUBILEE D'IANUFACTURING i COMPANY, OF OMA-IA, NEBRASKA.

SPARK INTENSIFIER.

Application fi1ed March 23, 1920. Serial No. 368,203.

To all w /wm may concern Be it known that I, Annxrs F. GILLET, a citizen of the United States, residing at Omaha, in the county of Douglas and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spark Intensifiers, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to improveinents in spark intensifiers and has for an object to provide an improved device of this character adapted to further indicate on the exterior of the cylinder the condition of the spark therein.

Another object of the present invention resides in providing an indi'cating spark 'gap associated with the usual spark plug of an Vinternal combustion engine through which the current must jump in passing to the terminals of the plug and to consequently raise the voltage and insure the production of Good sparking within the cylinder.

: further object of the present invention resides in providing an improved spark intensifier that is simple and inexpensive in construction and which is capable of being mounted in conjunction with exciting forms of spark plugs and any alteration or modification in the constructions thereof.

The above, and various other objects and advantages of this invention will be in part described in, and in part understood from, the following detailed description of the present preferred embodiment, the same being illustrated in the accompanying drawings whereinz- Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a spark plug and a spark intensifier constructed according to the present invention and shown in conjunction with a portion of a cylinder which is illustrated in section.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of ay ring insulator.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of adisc insulator.

Fig. 11 is a plan view of a mica disc.

Fig 5 is a top plan view of an assembled intensifier, and

Fig. 6 is a plan view of one of the electrodes.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 10 designates the wall or head of a cylinder forming part of an internal combustion engine, and 11 represents a spark lug of conventional type having the screw threads 12 by which it is removably secured in the cylinder wall or head 10.

electrical leads without The usual form of terminals for the plug 11 are seen at 13 and 14:, the customary gap being left therebetween across which the current must jump to formthe spark for firing the compressed charge in the cylinder.

According to the well known construction the central terminal 14 connects With a rod electrode 15 which projects up through the porcelain top of the spark plug and has an end projecting beyond such top of the plug and which is screw threaded to receive binding nuts 16. The lead or electric wire is connected between the binding nuts '10 according to the present practice for conveying the current down through the central rod electrode 15 to the terminal 111. The current jumping across the gap to the other terminal 13 forms a spark which ignites the |vaporized gas in the cylinder. The termnal 13 is grounded through the metal shell en which the threads 12 are formed onto the cylinder 10. i

All of the foregoing parts are according to the usual construction. The present in- -vention proposes to introduce between the lead or electric wire 17 and the rod electrode 15 of the spark plug an improved spark intensifier which may be conveniently included between these parts without alteration in the connections.

According to the invention the intensifier consists of a pair of electrodes 18 and 19 having perforations 20 and 21 made in their remote ends to receive respectively the upper threaded end of the rod electrode 15 and a binding screw or bolt 22 which is carried by the connector 23 of the wire 17. The electrodes 18 and 19 are made of some suitable metal and are produced preferably after the configuration shown in Figs. 5 and 6. According to this configuration the electrodes have their adjacent ends formed to provide concave recesses 24 arranged opposite one another-and having points of horns 25 and 26 located at opposite sides of the recesses 211 and providing in effect a double gap across which the spark may jump from thel points or horns of one of the electrodes to those of the other. Lateral enlargements 27 and 28 are also embodied in the construction of the electrodes 18 and 19 and such enlargements are provided with perforations 29 and 30 to receive bolts or rivets as hereinafter referred to.

A disc or plug 31 of some preferred insulating material is secured beneath the elect'rodes 18 'and119 and' holds-the-=same in a predetermined adjusted position With the points or horns 25 and 26 separated a suitable distance. The disc-or'plug 31 isshoivn in plan in Fig. 3 and is proyide'dWvith perforations 32 in alignment With the perforations 29 and made in the electrodes.

Above the electrodes 18 and 19 is placedan insulating ring 33 shown in plan in Fig.

2 and having -per-forat-ions 34 inalignment Withthe previously mentioned 'perforations electrodes' 18 and 19, ring--33, mica disc 35 and the-'binding-:ring 37 for 'holding-'all 'of these' parts together iir'p'rearranged relation.'

In 'practise,'l current enter-ing through the 4 Wire -17 lWill -passthrough the connector 23 screw 22 'to thei terminal y19 and Will jump fromv the two points or'horns thereonfto' the opposite set of horns of the electrode; 185. The current will thencein ythe usual xmanner descen'd through the rod electroclei--l and Will jump across'the gap formed by the terminals 135 and y141ofthe plugfl The introduction of a spark gap such =as is-*provided by the terminals 18 and 19 Will introduce an increased 'voltage in the Circuit Which Will be attended With a good spark at the vterminals 13- and 14, 'and' Will moreover show that the Circuit-for -the particular spa'rk plug'is in proper Working order, because, 'shouldfor cuited, it Would mama? any reason the current become short-circease to flovv across-the gap between the terminals 18 and 19 and observation through the transparent mica disc 35-Would immediately show this fact.

It'will be appreciated from the foregoing thatI have provided a simple and inexpensiv'e device for intensifying the spark in spark plugs, and moreover for showing the condition of the spark. The mica disc 35 covers the top of the electrodes and serves to excludeforeign matter from' getting :thereon While also allowing thespark passin-g therebetvveen.

I do not wish to 'be limited to' size, form, or proportion of the various parts., It Will 'be noted'that various vchanges'and modifications-may be made, provided such changes and imodifications are' Within the spirit of the invention andy Within the scope of the appended claim;

What is-claimed is A spark plug intensifier including al pair of electrodes having' recesses formed in their adjacent ends WithV fpoints at* opposite" sides of said recesses forming a double spa'rk gap, said electrodes also having ilateralenlargement-s provided With per-forations, a disc of insulat-ing -materialextending 'in common a ringof insulated I material 'extendng in common 'above saidl beneath saidy electrodes,

electrodes, a'mica discJ Testing on said ring, a bmdmg rmgabove said disc, andfastenings passingthrough-saidl disc','r1ngs, and

electrodes' for bindingthe same "together in predetermine'd relation.

In testimony Whereof, I have aflixed my signature in presence'of two Witn'esses.

ALEXIS -Ff GILLET 'of the inspection of 

